VDSL
The smart choice if you're waiting for fibre
VDSL is suitable for a range of online activities like streaming high definition shows, video calling or uploading photos. Broadband plans on VDSL generally offer a faster, more reliable internet experience than basic ADSL broadband, but cost about the same per month.
VDSL broadband connections are also quick and easy to get up and running in most cases. This is because the existing copper network is used to transport data from your house to a local roadside cabinet, which means there's no installation or building work needed. From that point on the fibre network is used which means you also get some of the speed and reliability benefits of a fibre connection.
Due to the use of both network technologies in a VDSL connection, it does mean it is only available to properties located up to 1,200m of the local cabinet or exchange as copper lines can be impacted by distance. Like ADSL, VDSL is also susceptible to lag or latency but lower lag than fixed wireless broadband.
From that perspective, a VDSL connection is a great option if you're looking for an upgrade from than basic broadband and you're waiting for fibre to become available.
If Chorus fibre isn't likely to be coming to your area anytime soon, as you're outside the planned ultra-fast broadband Government rollout programme or you're located in another fibre company region, there are other options to connect to our world class fibre network.
- Easy upgrade
- Less buffering than ADSL
- Less prone to lag than fixed wireless
- Dedicated broadband connection
- Supports UHD video streaming
VDSL provides broadband access over a mix of copper and fibre lines and can deliver data at a rate up to 130 Mbps and 10 Mbps upload.
The speed and performance of an VDSL broadband connection may differ from this potential speeds due to a range of factors beyond the Chorus network such as the age of devices, wifi performance, the quality of the modem, a broadband provider’s network and capacity and the distance between your house and the exchange. The typical VDSL connection speed in New Zealand is 25-60 Mbps upload and 10 Mbps download.
It matters how far away you are from the local cabinet. With copper connections, speed does decrease over distance. The further away you are, the slower the connection may be. Chorus can deliver VDSL services to properties located up to 1.2 km of the local cabinet or exchange. Fibre broadband is not affected by distance.
As outlined above, VDSL broadband connections use the legacy copper network which is the same network that has been used to connect our landline phones for over a century. As part of the natural evolution of technology and with fibre now available to over 80% of New Zealand, over the next couple of years Chorus will be retiring parts of the copper network in high density areas where fibre is available. There’ll certainly be no ‘switch off date’ for the copper network, like terrestrial TV for example. Instead it will happen gradually on a street by street basis and will only happen if fibre uptake is at a level where it needs to be. So if fibre is available in your area, you may want to consider a fibre connection. It's proven as the best performing broadband, costs not much more than VDSL and is generally free to install.
If you're in a rural area where fibre is not available today or planned for anytime soon, it's also ok as we'll be ensuring the copper network will remain in these areas so you can continue to access landline and broadband services.
Find the right connection for you
Not all broadband is created equal. Before you choose a plan with your broadband provider it’s good to understand the difference between the technologies and connection types available.
- Web browsing
- Emailing
- Download music / photos
- Web browsing
- Emailing
- Video streaming
- Streaming ultra-high definition video
- Video calling with apps like Zoom
- Uploading large files
- A wide range of online activities
- Streaming ultra-high definition video
- Online gaming
- Video conferencing
- All online activities that standard fibre broadband supports but 40x faster and with much more data capacity
* Average percentage of the time a household could stream the highest Netflix video quality (UHD) - Measuring Broadband New Zealand (Winter 2020) report, Commerce Commission New Zealand.
** These download times are an estimate and assume the best typical speed for each broadband connection type (Source: Measuring New Zealand’s broadband performance). These estimates are not a guarantee of the speed you'll get at your address. Actual download times may be longer - especially for ADSL, VDSL and fixed wireless connections. Your broadband performance can be affected by range of factors beyond the Chorus network.
*** Please note that broadband offers vary between service providers.
ADSL vs VDSL
Quick and easy to get up and running and at a similar price to basic broadband, VDSL’s a great option while you wait for fibre.
Here's what to do next
Ready to take your connection to the next level? Follow these steps.
1. Check what's available
Our broadband checker tool will tell you in seconds if fibre is available now or when it’s coming. Check your address now.
2. Order with your provider
Talk to your preferred provider about the best fibre plan. Here are some tips of what to look out for.
3. Get connected
Chorus will connect your home or business to the fibre network. For most properties this is very straight forward.
The basic unit of measurement for a piece of computer data is the bit (which can be either 0 or 1). When we talk about the speed at which data moves across the internet we refer to megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second) and more recently gigabits per second (1,000,000,000 bits per second).
The faster you can download and upload data, the more enjoyable your internet experience will be. That's because the things we like doing on the internet - like streaming movies, TV and music, and playing games - require lots of information to move quickly from the internet to our computer, device or TV.
Broadband connection types (like VDSL) are advertised using the best speeds possible for the connection - a maximum potential upload and download speed. There are lots of factors that can affect the performance of your broadband, but the good news is, many of these things are within your control.
Latency - also known as ping - measures the time (or delay) it takes data to move from one device to another and back again. If the website you are trying to reach is far away or busy, then it will take longer to receive a response and your latency or ping rate with be high.
Wireless internet connections are more likely to be prone to poor latency which can affect the performance of your internet experience, including voice and video streaming services.
Different connections and cable types (copper, fibre, 4G wireless) carry data at different speeds, so a good download speed will depend on which of these connections you have at home. Ideally, you'll want to your speed test result to be close to the advertised top speed for your broadband plan.
If you’re not sure what type of broadband you have, you can use the Chorus Broadband Checker to find out what connection you’re on now and what options might be available at your place. Fibre and Hyperfibre connections are faster and more reliable than all the other types of broadband and come with dedicated capacity for multiple devices to connect at once - ideal for families!
Explore more
The future of the copper network
Broadband connection types explained
What can affect my broadband performance?
